A Peepshow Peek At 2016

Here we are, back at it with the first Peepshow post on the first Monday of 2016.

Let’s kick things off with a ’16 preview of sorts — the 16 things I’m most jazzed about in the year ahead. Don’t put your New Year’s party horns away just yet.

The continued “North” movement — and even a cold winterThe “North” movement is wildly popular, don’t ya know? Here’s to a true “North” 2016 with four full, long seasons (1).

Sports, sports, sports
US Bank Stadium (2), the Vikings’ stunning, billion-dollar work of art, is preparing to open its doors this summer. In 2018, it will play host to the Super Bowl. And unlike its infamous predecessor, the site is both a gorgeous addition to the Minneapolis skyline and a symbol of optimism.

The future is especially bright for the stadium’s surrounding Downtown East neighborhood (3). Many exciting additions are in store, including a potentially transformational 4-acre commons green space.

The new year will bring a stadium makeover to the west side of town, too, with renovations expected to start buzzing at the Target Center (4) by summer.

The Timberwolves (5) and Lynx (6) will ease the pain of Minnesota’s long-suffering sports fans and add a different kind of buzz to the Target Center as the most promising young team in the NBA and the reigning world champions, respectively.

The Vikings (7) are in the playoffs, and the Twins (8) and Wild (9) look to be 2016 playoff teams, too. Minnesota’s beloved teams are finally primed for success.

Oh, and best of all: Minnesota will be hosting my personal favorite international sports competition this fall, as the Ryder Cup (10) takes on Hazeltine National Golf Club.

More fantastic food and drink
The Twin Cities boasts one of the top food scenes in the country, and the hits keep coming. Two of Minneapolis’ finest, The Bachelor Farmer(11) and Restaurant Alma(12), will open new café concepts in 2016, and I can’t wait to get in line. I’m also excited to try St Paul’s new additions, including Saint Dinette and The Commodore, and maybe even get a taste for what the bone-broth craze (13) is all about at Taking Stock Foods.

The unexpected
Of course, not everything “good” can be listed and predicted at the onset of a new year. The unexpected surprises, challenges and pleasures of daily life will certainly present a fair share of shining moments and memorable experiences in 2016, too. Shining moments are abound every day at Fast Horse(14). New travels (15) bring memorable experiences with every turn (except for North Shore moose sightings — I’m going to need a redo on that excursion this year). And surely, with every golf swing, that first hole-in-one (16) is inching closer.